Resumo

OLIVEIRA, Larissa Silva et al. Knowledge and practice of oral hygiene control in hospitalized patients in intensive care units. Rev. ABENO [online]. 2015, vol.15, n.4, pp. 29-36. ISSN 1679-5954.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the knowledge and practices of oral hygiene (OH) control in patients in intensive care units (ICU). A cross-sectional study was carried out involving 41 health professionals working in ICU by applying a questionnaire composed of sociodemographic data and variables related to the OH practices. Descriptive and bivariate statistics, using the Fisher's exact test (p <0.05) were performed. Most of the professionals were aged 30-39 years (n = 15; 36.6%), women (n = 37; 90.2%) and worked as nursing technician (n = 33; 80.5%). Most of them (n = 38; 92.68%) answered that there is no dentist in the hospitals and that the nursing technician is the professional responsible for the oral hygiene of patients (n = 41; 100%). The existence of oral hygiene protocol (n = 11; 26.8%) and the use of chlorhexidine gluconate 0.12% (n = 12; 29.3%) was unusual. Statistical difference was observed between the hospitals and the substance used for oral hygiene (p = 0.020). It highlights the need to develop and expand the activities of teaching, research and extension related to Hospital Dentistry in Dental courses in Brazil.

Palavras-chave : Oral Hygiene.; Intensive Care Units.; Dental Staff, Hospital..